Published: Monday, January 21, 2013 at 2:15 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, January 21, 2013 at 2:15 p.m.

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More than 2,000 people marched on Monday from Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School to the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum.

Participation in Tuscaloosa's annual Unity Day March, which honors the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, more than doubled from last year.

“There's more historic context this year, but every year this march is important,” said Rob Kemp, a 42-year-old Tuscaloosa resident who has participated in the march honoring the slain civil right leader for the past five years.

The historic context Kemp spoke of includes this year's King holiday occurring on the same day as the inauguration of the country's first black president, Barack Obama, for his second term in office. This year also marks the 50th year since a key moment in the beginning of the civil rights movement occurred in Tuscaloosa: the “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door.” Then-Alabama Gov. George Wallace on June 11, 1963, attempted to block two black students, Vivian Malone and James Hood, from integrating the University of Alabama. Hood died Jan. 17 at the age of 70 in Gadsden.

“We're still not comfortable with the issues of race,” Kemp said. “The more we're willing to talk about it, communicate and show that there's more economic benefits and social benefits being unified than not, only then can we become a democracy.”

Stevetta Temple, a 45-year-old Tuscaloosa resident, said King's work and the civil rights movement blazed a path for blacks and other non-whites in the U.S. and that accomplishment should never be forgotten.

“He made a pathway for us and it's important that we continue in that direction,” she said. “This MLK day is also extra special because it's inauguration day and President Obama has been passed King's baton.”

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said that this year's march was an important time for the city to come together in the aftermath of several recent violent incidents in the area involving youth.

“Can we reason together to agree that we don't want any more 19-year-olds killed in their apartments?” Maddox said. “I challenge myself and the community to be an agent of change.”

The mayor said he's optimistic about the future of Tuscaloosa, but not because of anything that's taking place in City Hall. What fuels his optimism, he said, is the city's people.

The Rev. Tyshawn Gardner, pastor of Plum Grove Baptist Church, said this King holiday is a time of commemoration, but also of conviction.

Some of the march's participants said that not enough has been done in Alabama and other parts of the country to ensure that all people are treated equally.

Benjamin Itehua, a 25-year-old Tuscaloosa resident who is originally from Mexico said he participated in the march as an outcry against injustice.

“This march is necessary,” Itehua said in Spanish. “It's a very important day for all human beings. Martin Luther King's struggle was a difficult one, but it continues. It hasn't been finished yet in the United States.

“As Latinos, we're struggling, but we're united and we want peace for all human beings,” said Itehua, who is a member of Somos Tuscaloosa, which is Spanish for “We Are Tuscaloosa.”

“We want an end to all racial injustice. Together, we can be successful,” he said.

The Rev. Jerry Seay, pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church, was the march's keynote speaker. It's an honor he's had for the past 16 years.

“Fifty years ago, we had race segregation, but 50 years later we have political segregation,” Seay said. “Fifty years ago, we picked cotton, but 50 years later those same hands picked the president ... Fifty years ago, people of color couldn't attend UA, but 50 years later people of color can attend UA, AU and all other universities ... Fifty years ago, dogs were out of control in Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma, but 50 years later we have something worse than dogs out of control. We have guns out of control.

“Young boys and girls, you can win the race,” he said. “As the hymn says, ‘No one told me the race would be easy, but I've come to far from where I've started from.' Hold on children. Don't grow weary.”

The museum opened its doors to the march's participants after the speeches and music from local high school bands ended. A temporary civil rights exhibit displayed 32 photos of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery “Bloody Sunday” march, when state troopers beat civil rights demonstrators.

Shaina Strom, the transportation museum director, said the exhibit, which is on loan from the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum, will be on display until March 15.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Many people. Many reasons to march.</p><p>More than 2,000 people marched on Monday from Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School to the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum.</p><p>Participation in Tuscaloosa's annual Unity Day March, which honors the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, more than doubled from last year.</p><p>“There's more historic context this year, but every year this march is important,” said Rob Kemp, a 42-year-old Tuscaloosa resident who has participated in the march honoring the slain civil right leader for the past five years.</p><p>The historic context Kemp spoke of includes this year's King holiday occurring on the same day as the inauguration of the country's first black president, Barack Obama, for his second term in office. This year also marks the 50th year since a key moment in the beginning of the civil rights movement occurred in Tuscaloosa: the “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door.” Then-Alabama Gov. George Wallace on June 11, 1963, attempted to block two black students, Vivian Malone and James Hood, from integrating the University of Alabama. Hood died Jan. 17 at the age of 70 in Gadsden.</p><p>“We're still not comfortable with the issues of race,” Kemp said. “The more we're willing to talk about it, communicate and show that there's more economic benefits and social benefits being unified than not, only then can we become a democracy.”</p><p>Stevetta Temple, a 45-year-old Tuscaloosa resident, said King's work and the civil rights movement blazed a path for blacks and other non-whites in the U.S. and that accomplishment should never be forgotten.</p><p>“He made a pathway for us and it's important that we continue in that direction,” she said. “This MLK day is also extra special because it's inauguration day and President Obama has been passed King's baton.”</p><p>Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said that this year's march was an important time for the city to come together in the aftermath of several recent violent incidents in the area involving youth.</p><p>“Can we reason together to agree that we don't want any more 19-year-olds killed in their apartments?” Maddox said. “I challenge myself and the community to be an agent of change.”</p><p>The mayor said he's optimistic about the future of Tuscaloosa, but not because of anything that's taking place in City Hall. What fuels his optimism, he said, is the city's people.</p><p>The Rev. Tyshawn Gardner, pastor of Plum Grove Baptist Church, said this King holiday is a time of commemoration, but also of conviction.</p><p>“As we move forward, we must ask ourselves, 'Have I done enough?' ” Gardner said.</p><p>Some of the march's participants said that not enough has been done in Alabama and other parts of the country to ensure that all people are treated equally.</p><p>Benjamin Itehua, a 25-year-old Tuscaloosa resident who is originally from Mexico said he participated in the march as an outcry against injustice.</p><p>“This march is necessary,” Itehua said in Spanish. “It's a very important day for all human beings. Martin Luther King's struggle was a difficult one, but it continues. It hasn't been finished yet in the United States.</p><p>“As Latinos, we're struggling, but we're united and we want peace for all human beings,” said Itehua, who is a member of Somos Tuscaloosa, which is Spanish for “We Are Tuscaloosa.”</p><p>“We want an end to all racial injustice. Together, we can be successful,” he said.</p><p>The Rev. Jerry Seay, pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church, was the march's keynote speaker. It's an honor he's had for the past 16 years.</p><p>“Fifty years ago, we had race segregation, but 50 years later we have political segregation,” Seay said. “Fifty years ago, we picked cotton, but 50 years later those same hands picked the president ... Fifty years ago, people of color couldn't attend UA, but 50 years later people of color can attend UA, AU and all other universities ... Fifty years ago, dogs were out of control in Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma, but 50 years later we have something worse than dogs out of control. We have guns out of control.</p><p>“Young boys and girls, you can win the race,” he said. “As the hymn says, 'No one told me the race would be easy, but I've come to far from where I've started from.' Hold on children. Don't grow weary.”</p><p>The museum opened its doors to the march's participants after the speeches and music from local high school bands ended. A temporary civil rights exhibit displayed 32 photos of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery “Bloody Sunday” march, when state troopers beat civil rights demonstrators.</p><p>Shaina Strom, the transportation museum director, said the exhibit, which is on loan from the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum, will be on display until March 15.</p><p>Reach Jamon Smith at jamon.smith@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0204.</p>